Daniels: defensive players have to hold each other accountable

Jan. 30, 2014

Mike Daniels said he took a week off after the season and has been working out since. File/Press-Gazette Media

Mike Daniels says he and the rest of the Packers’ defensive line bears most of the responsibility for the collapse of the team’s run defense. And to help avoid a similar fate next season, he’s going to be more demanding of himself and his teammates.

Daniels, who was in New York making media appearances as part of the lead up to the Super Bowl, probably was the Packers’ best defensive linemen last season, though he’s more of a pass rusher than run stopper.

When asked by Bill Michaels of Milwaukee radio station WSSP why the Packers’ run defense collapsed in the second half of the season and finished No. 25 in the league in run defense, Daniels talked about teammates holding each other accountable.

“I know there were a couple plays where I could have slammed somebody to the ground and I didn’t,” Daniels said. “I just have to do that more consistently, and I have to demand it from my teammates.

“We have to hold each other accountable and if some big play happens, not to say kick a guy when he’s down but say, “Hey, that was you, let’s go, let’s do this, we can’t hurt each other, we can’t shoot each other in the foot,’ because I would expect the same from my teammates, to let me know when I did something wrong.”

Daniels said he took a week off after the season and has been working out since.

“I have a lot to prove this season coming up, I have a lot to show,” he said. “And if I want to demand things from my teammates then I have to demand it from myself first.”